Bidé de Chavagnes to John Adams: A Translation

[dateline] On board the Royal Louis, 10 December 1781

[salute] My dear sir

The interest I take in you and your health, as well as that of your dear family, is
too sincere and constant to keep me from writing to you and to ask you for any news.
Also, I would like to reiterate my sentiments of at• { 124 } tachment that you, yours, and your compatriots have inspired in me. I wrote you at
Paris a while ago,1 but you apparently did not receive my letter, which expressed just how much I was
aware of the happy events and success against Lord Cornwallis. Accept my personal
congratulations. If Mr. Sartine, to whom I am infinitely obligated, had remained at
the ministry, I would have been able to contribute myself by commanding a ship, or
at least a large frigate, in the successful and good operations. But your poor little
captain Chavagnes cannot obtain either a commanding post or a leave to go to Paris.
He is going to a ship as second in command. I just left the Bien Aime and am now on
the Royal Louis2 heading, I believe, for Cadiz to join the Spanish. A good peace for America will
give you happiness, and will give happiness to Madame Chavagnes and me. I would be
even happier if I could return you and your dear little family back to Boston, happy
and healthy. If this could one day happen, it would give me great pleasure. I continue
today, and will in the future, in assuring you of my sincere and lasting devotion
with which I have the honor to be, my dear sir, your very humble and very obedient
servant